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By Anna McFadden, Director of Academic Engagement and IT Governance

As the WCU Division of Information Technology (DoIT) continues its reorganization in order to better serve WCU faculty, staff and students, the newly formed Department of Academic Engagement and IT Governance has emerged.

Led by Dr. Anna McFadden (pictured at right), former director of the Coulter Faculty Commons (CFC) and professor of educational leadership, the new department serves as the academic voice for IT by proactively creating and maintaining effective relationships and processes with colleges and other units, which result in enhanced teaching and learning effectiveness and administrative efficiency.

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Joining Anna are (clockwise from top left) IT Academic Analysts Barry Bidwell and Brandy Henning and IT Service Analyst Dixie Lawson. Manager of Instructional and Student Computing William Frady (bottom left) also reports to Anna. He and his team are engaged in the continuing development and expansion of the Technology Commons in Hunter Library. They will continue to provide lab and classroom support.

The department will be responsible for the IT governance and policies processes, which incorporate the academic, administrative and IT technology committees and the overall university IT Council. IT hopes to ensure via the governance processes that stakeholders share in decisions regarding needs and priorities for university IT efforts to improve the student learning experience, enhance decision making and advance overall administration efficiency and effectiveness. University offices and employees considering new technology projects are asked to contact Anna at 227-2411. She and her team will assist them in developing needs assessments and total cost of operations for projects. These projects will be vetted through the committee prioritization process.

Anna also will take the lead in the IT communication process with the university and will serve as the CIO’s liaison to Faculty Senate. As director of academic engagement and IT governance, she is a member of the IT executive team and plays a major role in setting IT direction and policies consistent with the mission of the University.

For more information on the Department of Academic Engagement and IT Governance, contact Director Anna McFadden at 227-2411.